{{Short description|Dam and power station and dam in Tasmania, Australia}} {{Use Australian English|date=July 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox dam | name = Devils Gate Dam | name_official = | image = Devil's Gate Dam Tasmania.jpg | image_size = 240 | image_caption = The [[arch dam|double-arch dam]] wall | image_alt = | location_map = Australia Tasmania | location_map_size = 240 | location_map_caption = Location of the dam in [[Tasmania]] | location_map_alt = | mapframe = yes | coordinates = {{coord|-41.350477|146.265492|region:AU-TAS_type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | country = Australia | location = [[North West Tasmania|Northern]] [[Tasmania]] | purpose = P | status = O | construction_began = | opening = 1969 | demolished = | cost = | owner = [[Hydro Tasmania]] | operator = | dam_type = A | dam_crosses = [[Forth River (Tasmania)|Forth River]] | dam_height = {{cvt|84|m}} | dam_height_foundation= | dam_height_thalweg = | dam_length = {{cvt|134|m}} | dam_elevation_crest = | dam_width_crest = | dam_width_base = | dam_volume = {{cvt|31|e3m3}} | spillway_count = 1 | spillway_type = [[Spillway#Types|Uncontrolled]] | spillway_capacity = {{cvt|2040|m3/s}} | res_name = Lake Barrington | res_capacity_total = {{cvt|179.94|GL|acre.ft}} | res_capacity_active = | res_capacity_inactive= | res_catchment = {{cvt|742|km2}} | res_surface = {{cvt|66.5|ha}} | res_max_length = {{cvt|20|km}} | res_max_width = | res_max_depth = | res_elevation = {{cvt|119|m}} {{AHD}} | res_tidal_range = | plant_name = Devils Gate Power Station | plant_coordinates = | plant_operator = Hydro Tasmania | plant_commission = 1969 | plant_decommission = | plant_type = R | plant_hydraulic_head = {{cvt|68|m}} | plant_turbines = 1 x {{cvt|63|MW}}<br />Boving [[Francis turbine|Francis-type]] | plant_capacity = {{cvt|63|MW}} | plant_capacity_factor= 0.8 | plant_annual_gen = {{cvt|314|GWh}} | website = {{URL|hydro.com.au/clean-energy/our-power-stations/mersey-forth|hydro.com.au}} | extra = <ref name=ANCOLD/> }} The '''Devils Gate Dam''' is a concrete [[arch dam|double-arch dam]] across the [[Forth River (Tasmania)|Forth River]], located near {{TAScity|Barrington}}, in [[North West Tasmania|northern]] [[Tasmania]], Australia. Completed in 1969, the resultant [[reservoir]], '''Lake Barrington''', was established for the purpose of generation of [[hydroelectricity]] via the adjacent '''Devils Gate Power Station''', a [[Run-of-the-river hydroelectricity|run-of-the-river]] hydroelectric [[power station]].
The dam, its reservoir, and the power station are owned and operated by [[Hydro Tasmania]].
== Dam and reservoir overview == The concrete dam wall is {{convert|84|m}} high and {{convert|134|m}} long. When full, Lake Rosebery has capacity of {{convert|179.94|GL|acre.ft|lk=on}} and covers {{convert|66.5|ha}}, drawn from a [[drainage basin|catchment area]] of {{convert|742|km2}}. The [[Spillway#Types|uncontrolled spillway]] has a flow capacity of {{convert|2040|m3/s}}.<ref name=ANCOLD>{{cite web |title=Register of Large Dams Australia-2015 |date=January 2022 |access-date=5 March 2026 |url=https://ancold.org.au/information-resources/dams-information/ |work=[[ANCOLD]] |format=[[Microsoft Excel|Excel]]. Requires download. Row 150}}</ref> It is one of the thinnest concrete arch dams in the world.{{r|ENG}}
The dam received a Historic Engineering Marker from [[Engineers Australia]] as part of its [[Engineers Australia#Engineering Heritage Recognition Program|Engineering Heritage Recognition Program]].<ref name=ENG>{{cite web |url=https://portal.engineersaustralia.org.au/heritage/devils-gate-dam-forth-river-1969 |title=Devils Gate Dam, Forth River, 1969– |publisher=[[Engineers Australia]] |date= |access-date=27 April 2020}}</ref>
=== Reservoir === [[File:Lake Barrington racing.jpg|thumb|left|Dragonboating on Lake the reservoir]] The reservoir's foreshore is protected by the [[Tasmanian Government]] as a [[Protected areas of Tasmania#Nature recreation areas|natural recreation area]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/file.aspx?id=6592 |title=Lake Barrington |work=Parks and Wildlife Service Tasmania |page=1 |access-date=19 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110402180137/http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/file.aspx?id=6592 |archive-date=2 April 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Lake Barrington is a world-standard [[Rowing (sport)|rowing]] course. It hosted the [[1990 World Rowing Championships]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://worldrowing.com/event/1990-world-rowing-championships-lake-barrington-tasmania-australia |title=1990 World Rowing Championships |work=World Rowing |date= |access-date= }}</ref> and several [[Australian Rowing Championships]] in 1984,<ref>{{cite book |title=Australian national and interstate amateur rowing and sculling championships, Lake Barrington, Tasmania, 28 March – 1 April 1984 |publisher=A.P.P.M. King's Cup and National Rowing Regatta; Tasmanian Rowing Council Inc.; and Australian Rowing Council Inc }}</ref> 1987,<ref>1987 Cadbury Kings Cup and National Rowing Championships: Lake Barrington International, Tasmania 1–5 April, Tasmania : Tasmanian Rowing Council</ref> 1990,<ref>Winter, Ian (1990) ''Blades down under: the official record of the world rowing championships 1990, Lake Barrington, Tasmania, Australia'' Tasmania : Amherst Educational in association with Key Publications, {{ISBN|0-646-03288-7}}</ref><ref>Hagan, J. and Patterson, Ed (1991) Oars aweigh: assessing the impact of the 1990 World Rowing Championships on Tasmania. Hobart, Tas. Dept. of Tourism, Sport and Recreation, prepared under the auspices of the Australian Sport and Recreation Facilities Advisory Committee (AUSFAC)"</ref> 1994, 1997, 2003, 2006, 2009, and 2021. The reservoir is also a location for the annual Tasmanian schools [[Head of the River (Australia)|Head of the River]] rowing regatta.
Two water ski clubs are based at Lake Barrington; the Kentish Aquatic Club and the Horsehead Water Ski Club.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 2014 |title=Kentish Park and Lake Barrington Park Master Concept Plan |url=https://www.kentish.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0030/152949/Kentish-Park-and-Lake-Barrington-Park-Draft-Master-Concept-Plan.pdf |access-date=5 April 2024 |website=kentish.tas.gov.au}}</ref>
== Hydroelectric power station == [[File:Forth River Hydro-Electric Commission dam (1972) (14491152791).jpg|thumb|left|Aerial view of the dam, in 1972. {{small|(Source: Tasmanian Archive and Heritage Office)}}]] The Devils Gate Power Station is part of the [[Mersey River (Tasmania)|Mersey]]{{endash}}Forth scheme that comprises seven [[Run-of-the-river hydroelectricity|run-of-the-river]] hydroelectric power stations and one [[mini-hydro]] power station. The seventh station in the scheme, the Devils Gate Power Station is located below the dam wall. Water from Barrington Lake is fed to the power station by a {{convert|150|m|adj=on}} single [[penstock]] tunnel.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hydro.com.au/clean-energy/our-power-stations/mersey-forth |title=Energy: Mersey – Forth |work=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |date=n.d. |access-date=26 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/shadomx/apps/fms/fmsdownload.cfm?file_uuid=F536AC58-F2AA-06A4-B37C-4F833479FA75&siteName=ieaust |title=Devils Gate Dam |work=[[Engineers Australia]] |date= |access-date= }}</ref>
The power station was commissioned in 1969 by the [[Hydro Tasmania|Hydro Electric Corporation]] and has one Boving [[Francis turbine|Fracis-type]] turbine, with a generating capacity of {{convert|63|MW}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://engineersaustralia.org.au/sites/default/files/2022-06/eha-magazine-v1-6.pdf |title=The Hydro after 100 Years |work=[[EHA Magazine]] |date=March 2015 |access-date=23 April 2026 |page=19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220821083524/https://engineersaustralia.org.au/sites/default/files/2022-06/eha-magazine-v1-6.pdf |archive-date=21 August 2022 }}</ref> The station output, estimated to be {{convert|314|GWh|TJ|lk=on}} annually,<ref name=ANCOLD/> is fed to [[TasNetworks]]' transmission grid via an 11 k[[voltage|V]]/110 kV [[Siemens]] generator transformer to the outdoor switchyard.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hydro.com.au/docs/default-source/clean-energy/our-power-stations/power-station-fact-sheets/devils-gate-power-station-fact-sheet.pdf?sfvrsn=3dcd9b28_2 |title=Devils Gate Power Station: Mersey-Forth Catchment |work=[[Hydro Tasmania]] |access-date=26 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626013841/https://www.hydro.com.au/docs/default-source/clean-energy/our-power-stations/power-station-fact-sheets/devils-gate-power-station-fact-sheet.pdf?sfvrsn=3dcd9b28_2 |archive-date=26 June 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>
== See also == {{stack|{{Portal|Renewable energy|Australia|Water|Sport}}}} * [[List of power stations in Tasmania]] * [[List of reservoirs and dams in Australia#Tasmania|List of reservoirs and dams in Tasmania]] * [[Australian Rowing Championships#Locations and events|List of locations and events of the Australian Rowing Championships]] * [[List of run-of-the-river hydroelectric power stations]]
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{cite web |url=https://www.sheffieldtasmania.com.au/devils-gate-dam |title=Devils Gate Dam |work=Kentish Visitor Information Centre |date=n.d. |access-date=23 April 2026 }}
{{Dams in Tasmania}} {{EnergyTasmania|state=collapsed}} {{Rowing World Championship Venues}}
[[category:1969 establishments in Australia]] [[Category:Arch dams]] [[Category:Dams completed in 1969]] [[Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 1969]] [[Category:Hydro Tasmania dams]] [[Category:Hydroelectric power stations in Tasmania]] [[Category:Northern Tasmania]] [[Category:Protected areas of Tasmania]] [[Category:Recipients of Engineers Australia engineering heritage markers]] [[Category:Reservoirs in Tasmania|Barrington]] [[Category:Rowing venues in Australia|Barrington]] [[Category:Run-of-the-river power stations]]